MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Anthony Peeler made a career-high seven
3-pointers and scored a season-high 26 points as the Minnesota
Timberwolves defeated the Seattle SuperSonics, 111-106, for
their sixth straight victory.

Peeler was 7-of-9 from the arc to help the Timberwolves match
their season-high winning streak. He finished one 3-pointer shy
of the franchise record set by Stephon Marbury at Seattle on
December 23, 1997.

"We have confidence in everybody," Peeler said. "We see a white
shirt in the corner and we don't even look to see who it is, we
just pass it because we know he is going to be open. When you
make it so easy like that, you are going to have fun."

"AP was on fire -- he was flaming," Wally Szczerbiak said. "We
call him `The Flamethrower.' He was hot, so we were milking
him."

Minnesota had a 77-69 edge entering the fourth quarter and led
by as much as 92-79 on a dunk by rookie Loren Woods with 6:09
left. But Rashard Lewis hit three 3-pointers down the stretch
and Seattle trimmed the deficit to 109-106 on a layup by Gary
Payton with seven seconds to play.

Szczerbiak iced the game with a pair of free throws with 4.4
seconds remaining.

"It's a credit to the team (that) they didn't quit," Seattle
coach Nate McMillan said. "They hung in there and continued to
battle, and gave themselves a chance. They executed and knocked
down shots, and kept the game close."

"That was good for our team," Payton said. "That's our team: We
need to hustle, we need to go out with energy. If we lose
without making a good effort at it, it makes it feel worse. Guys
should feel good about themselves."

Kevin Garnett added 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead five
players in double figures for Minnesota, which has won nine of
its last 10 contests.

Lewis led Seattle with 30 points. Payton added 25 and Vin Baker
23 for the SuperSonics, who lost for just the second time in
their last 10 games.

"(Peeler) hit 7-of-9 threes. That's huge," Lewis said. "That's
what really hurt us. We knew that we had to crowd their
shooters. I think we did a good job on Wally, but we forgot
about Peeler -- and he was the one that hurt us."

"We've had to double-team Garnett for the most part," said
McMillan, whose team fell to 1-2 against Minnesota this season.
"When we haven't doubled him, he's been able to score. When we
double him, they're rotating, and Peeler's sitting over there in
the corner knocking down J's."

The Wolves, who improved to 15-2 at home this season, have won
seven straight over the Sonics at the Target Center.

Seattle led by as much as 18-11 after Lewis hit a floater with
4:44 left in the first quarter. But Peeler got going from the
outside and tied the game at 25 on his second 3-pointer with 49
seconds to go.

Minnesota took a 29-28 edge into the second period when
Szczerbiak hit a 17-footer at the buzzer and grabbed the lead
for good at 33-32 on a layup by Sam Mitchell 2:05 into the next
period.

"I call (Peeler) Seattle Slew," Saunders said. "He's always done
that (against them). They trap a lot, and when we are moving the
basketball he is going to be the one open as he buries himself
in the corner. The rule is, you leave the farthest guy away from
the ball uncovered and you try and chase him. They couldn't get
to him quick enough tonight."